Celtics coach Doc Rivers complimented Thunder rookie guard James Harden prior to Wednesday night's game by comparing him to Paul Pierce.

Rivers said Harden, who is averaging 10.0 points and 3.2 rebounds, is like a "mini" version of the multi-time All-Star.

Both Harden and Pierce played high school basketball in Los Angeles.

"He's more similar to Pierce than anyone else I've seen in the league," Rivers told reporters.

Rivers added that Pierce would play on Wednesday night against Oklahoma City.

"He's gonna go," the coach said.

When asked if Pierce had recovered from a shoulder stringer, Rivers said: "I guess, because he's playing.

"You don't know what causes stingers. You gotta call coach [Bill] Belichick, that's a football injury."

Celtics forward Paul Pierce said he suffered a shoulder stinger in the third quarter of the team's loss to the Spurs on Sunday night.

Pierce got tangled with Manu Ginobili in traffic and drew a foul while going up for a shot attempt. He landed fine, but soon fell to the ground clutching his right shoulder.

He missed the first of two free throws and coach Doc Rivers soon subbed the captain out of the game. Pierce returned soon after, but scored just five points after the injury scare.

"It's a little sore," he said after the game. "It's a stinger -- I've got some numbness down the right side of my arm, but hopefully it doesn't get any worse."

The Celtics quietly clinched the Atlantic Division title with a victory over the Kings on Friday night.

"So I guess that's good," coach Doc Rivers said. "It's obviously not what we're trying to do. When you have a team with your goals so high, you don't really focus on it."

The Celtics defeated the Mavericks 102-93 in Dallas on Saturday night, earning a split of their season series.

Rondo, who posted 20 points and 10 assists, said Boston wasn't looking for "payback" following their loss to Dallas at home back in January.

"We don't look at it as payback," Rondo said. "That game was over when it happened. It's a new time for us and we just needed a win."

Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace vowed "retribution" in the rematch, complaining after the game in January that the referees give Dirk Nowitzki  preferential treatment.

Wallace didn't comment following Saturday's victory.

Celtics guard Tony Allen has seen his playing time reduced since the arrival of Michael Finley in Boston.

"It's already evident, isn't it?" Allen said of what Finley's presence meant for him. "It's already evident."

Allen played just 13 seconds on Sunday against the Cavaliers.

"It's evident what's happening, so all I can do is be a teammate and cheer my teammates on and not be a cancer to the team," Allen said. "Some people might think that's what would happen, but once I pledge to say that I'm all in, I'm all in. I'm a loyal guy.

"So if this is what they feel is best for the team, I'm down with it. Ain't no complaint. At this point, it is what it is. All I can do is sit back and continue to cheer - and stay ready. You never know. Anything can happen."

Allen will hit the free-agent market this summer and although Boston general manager Danny Ainge is a strong supporter, he could be courted by other clubs.

"I just want to be somewhere secure," Allen said. "Everybody wants job security. I mean, that goes without saying.

"I like Boston. I just want to help this team as much as I can. I mean, I'm in the gym every day working hard trying to get my body back to where I need it to be. I'm working with (strength coach) Bryan Doo and (assistant coach Mike) Longabardi, just showing them and the other coaches that, hey, I'm willing to work. I'm not going to get complacent. I've been hit with a few bad injuries, but if I take those injuries away I think I can be probably one of the top defenders in this league. I think I can be effective on both ends of the court. I've just got to stay healthy, and that's my biggest key."

Eddy Curry is still experiencing pain in his right calf and has yet to re-take the court after sitting out most of the season.

"I really thought I was close," Curry said Monday. "I really felt coach was really going to play me and really have the opportunity to get out there with these guys even though we're not playing for a playoff spot. But I would've played and gotten momentum going into summertime."

There is some belief that Curry is not rushing back because he is disappointed that he did not play regularly when he was healthy earlier in the season.

Curry will make an attempt to get on the court Wednesday in Boston.

Celtics big man Glen Davis says he didn't try to intentionally hurt Shaquille O'Neal in a game earlier this season.

Davis called the accusations "crazy."

O'Neal is expected to miss the rest of Cleveland's regular season after tearing a ligament in his thumb when Davis blocked his shot in a game in Boston on Feb. 25.

Celtics center Kendrick Perkins says that the Cavaliers still haven't won anything this season and that they are better without center Shaquille O'Neal.

Perkins was aware that his comments would be taken as trash talk, but he proceeded with him anyway.

"They still haven"t won nothing," he said Saturday of Cleveland. "They're just the best team in the league. They still haven't done nothing we haven't done. Right now, they're the best team in the league and we just got to go at them."

O'Neal has been sidelined with an injured right thumb he suffered against the Celtics on Feb. 25. The Cavs hope to get O'Neal back for the playoffs, but have gone 7-1 without the legendary center.

"In my opinion, I think they're better," Perkins said. "They can run more. You've got Anderson Varejao, who's more of an active body. He gets LeBron (James) open a lot - opens up the paint for him.

"I think they're a better team. Obviously Shaq can help them, but I think they're better - a more fast-paced team."

When asked about the differences between his old team, the Spurs, and his new club, the Celtics, Michael Finley cited trash talking.

"A lot of talking - trash talking, I guess," Finley told the Boston Herald. "It's a lot more aggressiveness, a lot more of just letting the players go out and play, a lot less teaching than we had in San Antonio. But each team is different, each approach is different and I think the approach that Doc (Rivers) and the coaching staff takes with this team is suited for this team."

Finley has gone 10-for-14 from the field in his three games with Boston.

"It's been a smoother transition than what I thought," Finley said. "I thought it would be a little bit tough coming from a different team, a different organization, switching conferences - all those things going against me. But these guys have welcomed me with open arms, which makes my transition a lot easier and hopefully I can fit in quickly."

The Celtics are aware of their struggles as of late, but Boston coach Doc Rivers attempted to further motivate his players on Friday morning.

Rivers read the team an article that pointed out their inconsistency, lack of urgency and said that they wouldn't return to the NBA Finals if they kept playing as they are currently.

The coach told the media prior to the game that many of the Celtics thought the piece was written by a Boston publication, because many had made similar comments about themselves.

When Rivers revealed that the piece had been written by the L.A. Times and featured quotes from Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, the players laughed.

"We've said all those things," Rivers said.

"I hope we play [the Lakers] again," he said, hinting of the NBA Finals. "That would be great, but both of us need to get there first."

Rivers added that he didn't feel the Celtics needed "a personnel change," but rather their current group simply needed to start playing better.